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KUALA LUMPUR – The Defence Ministry must ensure it has sufficient funds before implementing any project in future.

This was proposed by the Public Accounts Committee following the delay and weaknesses it found in the Wisma Perwira Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (Malaysian Armed Forces) project at Jalan Padang Tembak here.

PAC chairman Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin noted that the project was only completed after being delayed for 389 days because of the weaknesses in the aspect of design planning and work scope.

Aside from that, the cost increased by more than RM300,000; there was a delay of 25 months in occupying the building; the mechanical and electrical works were not up to par and negotiation with the furnishing works consultant was finalised late, he said.

He said this in a statement here today in regard to the PAC Report on the Construction and Management of Wisma Perwira (WP), a project under the Defence Ministry.

The issue was brought up at the presentation of the Auditor General’s Report 2014 Series 1 at Dewan Rakyat on April 6, 2015.

Hasan said Defence Secretary-General Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Muhamad Radzi had given the clearance for PAC to hold the proceeding today on the issue.

During the proceeding, PAC stressed among others, that every “design and build” decision must be finalised at an early stage and weaknesses in the contract regulation aspect had given rise to problems in the project.

“Lack of manpower and expertise in the construction of storey buildings and weaknesses in the coordination and standard operating procedure resulted in weaknesses (loopholes) that could be exploited,” he said.

Hasan said PAC also recommended for the Defence Engineering Services Division to be improved through monitoring of its work quality.

Meanwhile, he said the security control building must be managed by the ministry itself instead of allowing it to be handled by other parties on contract, to avoid additional costs.

“The engineering division must raise their expertise and capability to PWD standard in future and the Ministry’s internal audit must ensure that the internal controls and SOP are improved and reinforced so that the weaknesses could be reduced,” he said.

He said although the WP had been completed, the ministry must first and foremost make sure that the technical needs were met and structure of the building, safe.

The report could be accessed through www.parlimen.gov.my/pac, he said. – BERNAMA